The influence of the provenance of arenite on its diagenesis in the Cameros Rift Basin (Spain)

Abstract

The intraplate Cameros Rift Basin in northern Spain, which has sediments some 6500 m thick, developed between the Late Jurassic and Early Albian. Its facies and their distribution in the sedimentary record suggest the basin may contain hydrocarbon systems. The arenite composition of the basin reveals two main petrofacies: (1) a quartzolithic petrofacies, the provenance of which is related to recycling processes that took place in the pre-rift sedimentary cover; and (2) a quartzofeldspathic petrofacies mainly related to the erosion of a plutonic and metamorphic source of arenite. The succession of these petrofacies reflects two main cycles representing the progressive erosion of their sources, one of 10 Ma, the other of 30 Ma. Such succession is typical of a non-volcanic rift basin. The quartzolithic petrofacies shows early carbonate cements that inhibited compaction and later quartz, feldspar and clay mineral diagenetic phases. The quartzofeldspathic petrofacies has a rigid framework that maintained the original pores of the arenite during burial diagenesis. Quartz and K-feldspar overgrowths are common, with secondary porosity occurring as a product of feldspar dissolution. The quartzofeldspathic petrofacies has a greater potential to act as a hydrocarbon reservoir. This study corroborates the close relationship between the provenance of arenite and its reservoir potential in continental rift basins.

Petroleum Systems Modelling in a Fold‐and‐thrust Belt Setting: The Inverted Cameros Basin, North‐central Spain

“…However, most of these deposits were affected by deep burial and/or intensive hydrothermal metamorphism, considerably reducing their porosity. In the Urbión Group sandstones, primary porosity may have been preserved due to the rigid grain framework Arribas et al, 2014;Ochoa et al, 2007), making the sandstones a potential reservoir unit. Traces of hydrocarbons have been identified between quartz grains in these sandstones, which indicates the presence of oil in the pore spaces before quartz cementation occurred (Mantilla-Figueroa et al, 1998;Ochoa et al, 2007).…”

“…The most significant erosion event occurred during basin inversion (Eocene to Early Miocene), and little erosion took place during the preceding pre-, syn-and post-extensional stages. The thickness of the eroded section was estimated by stratigraphic and structural reconstructions Guimerà et al, 1995;Muñoz-Jiménez and Casas-Sainz, 1997;Casas-Sainz and Gil-Imaz, 1998;Omodeo Salè et al, 2014). A maximum eroded thickness of 5500 m has been determined in the central part of the basin, gradually decreasing toward the south (Fig.…”

Sediment provenance studies in hydrocarbon exploration and production: an introduction

“…The traditional techniques of petrographic examination, point counting, and textural and compositional analysis by SEM (scanning electron microscope) reveal the composition and diagenetic evolution. Arribas et al (2013) also explore the relationship between sediment provenance and reservoir quality, using a case study of the Late JurassicEarly Cretaceous succession of the Cameros Rift Basin, northern Spain. The authors demonstrate that of the two principal sandstone petrofacies in the region, quartzolithic and quartzofeldspathic arenites, it is the latter that have the greatest reservoir potential due to secondary porosity generation as a consequence of feldspar dissolution.…”

Diagénesis, análisis de procedencia y ambiente tectónico de rocas siliciclásticas. Un caso de estudio en el Devónico Superior de la Cordillera Ibérica (Tabuenca, España)

“…Provenance studies of siliciclastic rocks have been studied in sedimentary basins, such as foreland basins (i.e., DeCelles & Hertel, 1989;Critelli & Le Pera, 1994;White et al, 2002;Critelli et al, 2003;Garzanti et al, 2003) or rift basins (i.e., Garzanti et al, 2001Garzanti et al, , 2003Arribas et al, 2003Arribas et al, , 2007Arribas et al, , 2014González-Acebrón et al, 2007, or in areas of relative tectonic quiescence (i.e., Marenssi et al, 2002;Amorosi & Zuffa, 2011;Amorosi et al, 2012;González-Acebrón et al, 2017).…”